Missing hiker found in Big Cypress Preserve

A hiker was found alive and well Friday morning after going missing in the Big Cypress National Preserve.

The Big Cypress National Preserve said the hiker set out Thursday afternoon by himself to hike the Gator Hook Trail, which usually takes about four hours to complete.

The man reportedly left an itinerary with his wife and when he didn't return at the specified time, she contacted the park.

Rescuers then launched a search for the man around 5:30 p.m. The National Park Service and the Collier County Sheriff's Office searched on the ground, while Miami-Dade Air Resources searched from the air.

At around 10 p.m., rescue teams called off the search for the night. Four National Park Service Rangers began searching again in the morning.

They made contact with the man on his cell phone, which helped them figure out the area he was in. At some point, the man's cell phone died.

But the rangers were still able to find him around 8:30 a.m. The man had located a dry spot to ride out the night. When found, he was hungry and dehydrated and mosquito-bitten, but still in good condition. He wasn't transported to a hospital.

"He was hungry, thirsty and from what I understand he had a lot of mosquito bites from being out there overnight. Other than that he was okay. He did not need medical attention," said Christopher Derman, a park ranger supervisor. "It's definitely a great relief. It's alway enjoyable when we're able to end the story on a high note."

According to park officials, the man in his 50s is an experienced hiker. They say he was visiting from Michigan with his wife.

Officials say at least a dozen times a year, a hiker goes missing int he Big Cypress National Preserve. They say it's typical because the hiker is not familiar with the area.

Derman says Big Cypress National Reserve is 729,000 acres. He advised hikers to come to the park with a map and a plan.

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